Previous question: Difference between revisions

Previous question (RONR)
Class	Subsidiary motion
In order when another has the floor?	No
Requires second?	Yes
Debatable?	No
May be reconsidered?	Yes, but if vote was affirmative, only before any vote has been taken under it. A negative vote on this motion can be reconsidered only until such time as progress in business or debate has made it essentially a new question.
Amendable?	No
Vote required	Two-thirds

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In US parliamentary procedure, the previous question (also known as "calling for the question", "calling the question", "close debate", "calling for a vote", "vote now", or other similar forms) is generally used as a motion to end debate on a pending proposal and bring it to an immediate vote. The meaning of this specialized motion has nothing to do with any question previously considered by the assembly.

In the United States Senate and Commonwealth parliaments, a motion for "cloture", or "closure", is used instead to end debate. In those bodies, the "previous question" has a different use and is rarely used or not used at all.

History[edit]

English Parliament[edit]

The first instance of the "previous question" being used in the English Parliament dates back to 25 May 1604.^[1]^[2] At that time, use of this motion was intended not to end debate, but to suppress the main question for the rest of the sitting (similar to an objection to the consideration of a question).^[2] It could be debated and when put to a vote, an affirmative vote on the previous question would put the main motion to an immediate vote, while a negative vote on the previous question would end consideration of the main motion altogether for the day.^[2]^[1]

United States Congress[edit]

House of Representatives[edit]

In the United States House of Representatives, the previous question originally served the same purpose as it did in the English Parliament.^[2] In the 1800s, the House of Representatives altered the rules governing the way the previous question could be used: in 1805, it was rendered undebatable, and in 1841, the fraction of votes needed to pass it was lowered from 2/3 to 1/2, allowing for it to be invoked by a simple majority.^[2] These changes made it effectively equivalent of a motion of closure.^[2]

Senate[edit]

In 1806, the United States Senate eliminated the previous question motion as part of a rules consolidation suggested by Aaron Burr.

Explanation and use[edit]

To end debate, a motion for the previous question could be adopted. It is often proposed by a member saying, "I call [for] the question", although the formal wording is, "I move the previous question."^[3] The motion for the "previous question" has nothing to do with the last question previously considered by the assembly.^[4]

Another use of this motion could be to stop the moving of amendments on any amendable motion.^[5] It also prevents the making of other subsidiary motions like commit or postpone.^[4]

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)[edit]

Under Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (the book used by most organizations in the United States), when a motion for the previous question is made (whether formally or in a nonstandard form such as "calling the question", "close debate", or "calling for a vote"), a two-thirds vote (or unanimous consent) is required to end debate.^[6] A single member cannot force the end of debate.^[7] Also, interrupting someone by yelling out "Question!" or "Call the question!" is not appropriate (it has to be made by obtaining the floor like other motions).^[7]

This motion is not debatable because having debate on such a motion would defeat its purpose.^[8]

In ordinary societies, the rationale for a two-thirds vote to end debate and move to a vote on the pending question is to protect the rights of the minority (and it may protect the rights of the majority if only one person was improperly allowed to stop debate).^[6]

Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure[edit]

Most state legislatures in the United States use Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure. This book also provides for the motion of the previous question.^[9]

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure[edit]

The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure does not have the "previous question". Instead this book has the motion to "close debate", the motion to "vote immediately", or the motion to "close debate and vote immediately".^[10] Regardless of the terminology, a two-thirds vote is required to end debate.

Use in the United States Congress[edit]

The previous question may be used to end debate on the proposal under consideration at the time the motion is made.^[11] If any Member moves the previous question, the Speaker must immediately put the question on such motion. If a simple majority of Members present and voting votes in favour of the previous question, the main motion is immediately put up to a vote.

Instead of a motion for the previous question, the United States Senate uses a motion to limit debate, called cloture.^[12] This requires three-fifths of the total number of Senators. It does not immediately end debate on the pending question, but rather imposes strict limitations on debate.

Use in other legislative bodies[edit]

In the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, in the Senate of Australia and in the Parliament of Canada, the previous question is used for its original purpose (that is, to postpone consideration of the question), while motions which have the aim of immediately ending debate are called closure motions.^[1]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]

United Kingdom[edit]

In the House of Commons, the previous question takes the form of a motion "that the Question be not now put"; its adoption results in debate on the main motion being postponed, while its rejection results in the main motion being immediately put up to a vote. A motion "that the question be not now put" is debatable and may be itself subject to a motion of closure.^[1]^[21] The Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons criticized this procedure as "totally incomprehensible", and proposed in its place a simplified motion to "proceed to the next business".^[21] As of 2023, the previous question has only been used three times since the end of the second world war.

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Seaward, Paul (November 12, 2014). "A perpetual disturbance? The history of the previous question". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Robert, Henry M. (1907). Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies ("Robert's Rules of Order 3rd" ed.). Chicago: Scott, Foresman and Company. pp. 60–62.
^ Robert, Henry M.; et al. (2011). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-306-82020-5.
^ ^a ^b Robert 2011, p. 198
^ Robert 2011, p. 197
^ ^a ^b Robert 2011, pp. 200–201
^ ^a ^b "Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 11)". The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site. The Robert's Rules Association. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
^ Robert 2011, p. 397
^ Mason, Paul (2010). Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure (PDF). Denver, CO: National Conference of State Legislatures. p. 239. ISBN 9781580246101.
^ Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. Revised by the American Institute of Parliamentarians (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-07-136513-0.
^ "Glossary (p)". www.congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2016-01-08. previous question - Non-debatable motion, available in the House and its legislative committees, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote.
^ "U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Virtual Reference Desk > Cloture". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
^ See dictionary definition of "previous question" at Black's Law Dictionary, Oxford Dictionaries, and thefreedictionary.com.
^ "Closure motions - Glossary page". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
^ "Chapter 16 - Previous question". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
^ "Chapter 31 - Conduct of Senators and rules of debate". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
^ "Chapter 14 - Control and conduct of debate". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
^ Puregger, Marjorie (1998). The Australian Guide to Chairing Meetings. Queensland, Australia: University of Queensland Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-7022-3010-3.
^ "The Curtailment of Debate - The Previous Question". www.ourcommons.ca. House of Commons of Canada. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^ "The Curtailment of Debate - Closure". www.ourcommons.ca. House of Commons of Canada. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
^ ^a ^b "House of Commons - Modernisation of the House of Commons - Fourth Report". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-08.

[:6-1] Seaward, Paul (November 12, 2014). "A perpetual disturbance? The history of the previous question". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 2016-01-10.

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Robert, Henry M. (1907). Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies ("Robert's Rules of Order 3rd" ed.). Chicago: Scott, Foresman and Company. pp. 60–62.

[:2-3] Robert, Henry M.; et al. (2011). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-306-82020-5.

[:3-4] Robert 2011, p. 198

[5] Robert 2011, p. 197

[:4-6] Robert 2011, pp. 200–201

[:5-7] "Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 11)". The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site. The Robert's Rules Association. Retrieved 2015-11-05.

[8] Robert 2011, p. 397

[9] Mason, Paul (2010). Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure (PDF). Denver, CO: National Conference of State Legislatures. p. 239. ISBN 9781580246101.

[10] Sturgis, Alice (2001). The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. Revised by the American Institute of Parliamentarians (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-07-136513-0.

[11] "Glossary (p)". www.congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2016-01-08. previous question - Non-debatable motion, available in the House and its legislative committees, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote.

[12] "U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Virtual Reference Desk > Cloture". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-08.

[13] See dictionary definition of "previous question" at Black's Law Dictionary, Oxford Dictionaries, and thefreedictionary.com.

[14] "Closure motions - Glossary page". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2016-01-08.

[15] "Chapter 16 - Previous question". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-01-09.

[16] "Chapter 31 - Conduct of Senators and rules of debate". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-01-09.

[17] "Chapter 14 - Control and conduct of debate". www.aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

[18] Puregger, Marjorie (1998). The Australian Guide to Chairing Meetings. Queensland, Australia: University of Queensland Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-7022-3010-3.

[19] "The Curtailment of Debate - The Previous Question". www.ourcommons.ca. House of Commons of Canada. Retrieved 2022-11-27.

[20] "The Curtailment of Debate - Closure". www.ourcommons.ca. House of Commons of Canada. Retrieved 2022-11-27.

[:1-21] "House of Commons - Modernisation of the House of Commons - Fourth Report". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-08.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Motion in US parliamentary procedure}}
 In US [[parliamentary procedure]], the '''previous question''' (also known as "calling for the question", "calling the question", "close [[Debate (parliamentary procedure)|debate]]", "calling for a vote", "vote now", or other similar forms) is generally used as a [[motion (parliamentary procedure)|motion]] to end debate on a pending proposal and bring it to an immediate vote. The meaning of this specialized motion has nothing to do with any question previously considered by the assembly.
@@ Line 4: / Line 5: @@
 == History ==
+=== English Parliament ===
-The "previous question" was initially used in the [[Parliament of England|English Parliament]] in 1604.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title = A perpetual disturbance? The history of the previous question|url = https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/a-perpetual-disturbance-the-history-of-the-previous-question/|website = The History of Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-10|date = November 12, 2014|first = Paul|last = Seaward}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = Scott, Foresman and Company|year = 1907|location = Chicago|pages = 60–62|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pTs9AAAAYAAJ&q=pocket%20manual%20of%20rules%20of%20order%20for%20deliberative%20assemblies&pg=PA60|edition = "Robert's Rules of Order 3rd"}}</ref> At that time, use of this motion was intended not to end debate, but to suppress the main question for the rest of the session (similar to an [[objection to the consideration of a question]]).<ref name=":0" /> It could be debated and when put to a vote, an affirmative vote on the previous question would put the [[main motion]] to a immediate vote, while a negative vote on the previous question would end consideration of the main motion altogether for the day.<ref name=":0" /> Although rarely used, this same form of the motion still exists in Parliament.<ref name=":6" />
+The first instance of the "previous question" being used in the [[Parliament of England|English Parliament]] dates back to 25 May 1604.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title = A perpetual disturbance? The history of the previous question|url = https://thehistoryofparliament.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/a-perpetual-disturbance-the-history-of-the-previous-question/|website = The History of Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-10|date = November 12, 2014|first = Paul|last = Seaward}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies|last = Robert|first = Henry M.|publisher = Scott, Foresman and Company|year = 1907|location = Chicago|pages = 60–62|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pTs9AAAAYAAJ&q=pocket%20manual%20of%20rules%20of%20order%20for%20deliberative%20assemblies&pg=PA60|edition = "Robert's Rules of Order 3rd"}}</ref> At that time, use of this motion was intended not to end debate, but to suppress the main question for the rest of the sitting (similar to an [[objection to the consideration of a question]]).<ref name=":0" /> It could be debated and when put to a vote, an affirmative vote on the previous question would put the [[main motion]] to an immediate vote, while a negative vote on the previous question would end consideration of the main motion altogether for the day.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
+=== United States Congress ===
-The United States Congress gradually changed the previous question to a different motion for its own purposes. Initially, its use in Congress was similar to that in parliament.<ref name=":0" /> Then in 1805, Congress made it undebatable.<ref name=":0" /> Throughout the 19th century, Congress made additional changes to this motion.<ref name=":0" /> By the end of the 19th century in the United States, it had become a motion to close debate and to proceed to voting on the main question.<ref name=":0" />
+==== House of Representatives ====
+In the [[United States House of Representatives]], the previous question originally served the same purpose as it did in the English Parliament.<ref name=":0" /> In the 1800s, the House of Representatives altered the rules governing the way the previous question could be used: in 1805, it was rendered undebatable, and in 1841, the fraction of votes needed to pass it was lowered from 2/3 to 1/2, allowing for it to be invoked by a simple majority.<ref name=":0" /> These changes made it effectively equivalent of a motion of [[cloture|closure]].<ref name=":0" />
+==== Senate ====
+In 1806, the [[United States Senate]] eliminated the previous question motion as part of a rules consolidation suggested by [[Aaron Burr]].
 == Explanation and use ==
@@ Line 37: / Line 44: @@
 {{See also|Cloture}}
-In the [[United States House of Representatives ]], most major legislation comes to the floor under a special rule approved by the [[United States House Committee on Rules|Rules Committee]], and then the House, which defines the terms and limits of debate for that resolution. After debate has begun, the previous question may be used to end debate<ref>{{Cite web|title = Glossary (p)|url = https://www.congress.gov/help/legislative-glossary#p|website = www.congress.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08|publisher = Library of Congress|quote = previous question - Non-debatable motion, available in the House and its legislative committees, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote.}}</ref> (which requires only a [[Majority#Majority vote|simple majority]] of voting Members to pass).
+The previous question may be used to end debate on the proposal under consideration at the time the motion is made.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Glossary (p)|url = https://www.congress.gov/help/legislative-glossary#p|website = www.congress.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08|publisher = Library of Congress|quote = previous question - Non-debatable motion, available in the House and its legislative committees, which, when agreed to, cuts off further debate, prevents the offering of additional amendments, and brings the pending matter to an immediate vote.}}</ref> If any Member moves the previous question, the Speaker must immediately put the question on such motion. If a [[Majority#Majority vote|simple majority]] of Members present and voting votes in favour of the previous question, the main motion is immediately put up to a vote.
-Instead of a motion for the previous question, the [[United States Senate]] uses a [[Limit or extend limits of debate|motion to limit debate]], called [[cloture]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Virtual Reference Desk > Cloture|url = https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Cloture_vrd.htm|website = www.senate.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> This requires three-fifths of the total number of Senators.  It does not immediately end debate on the pending question, but rather imposes strict limitations on debate.
+Instead of a motion for the previous question, the [[United States Senate]] uses a [[Limit or extend limits of debate|motion to limit debate]], called [[cloture]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Virtual Reference Desk > Cloture|url = https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Cloture_vrd.htm|website = www.senate.gov|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> This requires three-fifths of the total number of Senators. It does not immediately end debate on the pending question, but rather imposes strict limitations on debate.
-== Use in other parliaments ==
+== Use in other legislative bodies ==
 {{See also|Cloture}}
-In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], the use of the previous question is the same as was originally developed (by suppressing the question instead of closing debate), although its use in this regard is very rare.<ref name=":6" /><ref>See dictionary definition of "previous question" at [http://thelawdictionary.org/previous-question/ Black's Law Dictionary], [https://web.archive.org/web/20150923170052/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/previous-question Oxford Dictionaries], and [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/previous+question thefreedictionary.com].</ref> The Chair responds to a motion for the previous question with "The question is, That the Question be not now put."<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = House of Commons - Modernisation of the House of Commons - Fourth Report|url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmmodern/600iv/md0405.htm|website = www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> The [[Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons]] criticized this procedure as "totally incomprehensible", and proposed in its place a simplified motion to "proceed to the next business".<ref name=":1" /> Instead of the previous question, a closure motion is used to end debate.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Closure motions - Glossary page|url = http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/closure-motion/|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>
+In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], in the [[Senate of Australia]] and in the [[Parliament of Canada]], the previous question is used for its original purpose (that is, to postpone consideration of the question), while motions which have the aim of immediately ending debate are called closure motions.<ref name=":6" /><ref>See dictionary definition of "previous question" at [http://thelawdictionary.org/previous-question/ Black's Law Dictionary], [https://web.archive.org/web/20150923170052/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/previous-question Oxford Dictionaries], and [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/previous+question thefreedictionary.com].</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Closure motions - Glossary page|url = http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/closure-motion/|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 16 - Previous question|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so094|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 31 - Conduct of Senators and rules of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so199|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 14 - Control and conduct of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/practice/chapter14#clos|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-10-04|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = The Australian Guide to Chairing Meetings|last = Puregger|first = Marjorie|publisher = University of Queensland Press|year = 1998|isbn = 0-7022-3010-3|location = Queensland, Australia|pages = 58|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=n-1xNhCQvMoC&pg=PA58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - The Previous Question|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_1-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - Closure|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_2-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}</ref>
-The [[Australian Senate]] has the "previous question" in its original form from the British Parliament (by suppressing the question instead of closing debate) and is also very rarely used by this body.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 16 - Previous question|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so094|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref> Instead, the "closure" motion is used to end debate in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 31 - Conduct of Senators and rules of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/aso/so199|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-01-09|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Chapter 14 - Control and conduct of debate|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/practice/chapter14#clos|website = www.aph.gov.au|access-date = 2016-10-04|language = en-AU|publisher = Parliament of Australia}}</ref> Closure is also used in groups outside parliament in Australia.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Australian Guide to Chairing Meetings|last = Puregger|first = Marjorie|publisher = University of Queensland Press|year = 1998|isbn = 0-7022-3010-3|location = Queensland, Australia|pages = 58|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=n-1xNhCQvMoC&pg=PA58}}</ref>
+=== United Kingdom ===
-In the [[Parliament of Canada]], the previous question has a similar older form.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - The Previous Question|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_1-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}</ref> Also in this body, the "closure" motion is used to end debate by requiring that the house proceed to voting at the end of the sitting in which the "closure" motion is adopted.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Curtailment of Debate - Closure|url = https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/procedure-and-practice-3/ch_14_2-e.html|website = www.ourcommons.ca|access-date = 2022-11-27|publisher = House of Commons of Canada}}</ref>
+In the House of Commons, the previous question takes the form of a motion "that the Question be not now put"; its adoption results in debate on the main motion being postponed, while its rejection results in the main motion being immediately put up to a vote. A motion "that the question be not now put" is debatable and may be itself subject to a motion of closure.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = House of Commons - Modernisation of the House of Commons - Fourth Report|url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmmodern/600iv/md0405.htm|website = www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref> The [[Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons]] criticized this procedure as "totally incomprehensible", and proposed in its place a simplified motion to "proceed to the next business".<ref name=":1" /> As of 2023, the previous question has only been used three times since the end of the second world war.
 == See also ==

v t e Parliamentary procedure
Major concepts	History of parliamentary procedure Principles of parliamentary procedure Deliberative assembly Committee Session Quorum Chair Floor Recognition Motion Second Debate Main motion Order of business Minutes Voting methods in deliberative assemblies Majority Unanimous consent
Subsidiary motions	Postpone indefinitely Amend Commit Postpone to a certain time Limit or extend limits of debate Previous question Cloture Lay on the table
Privileged motions	Call for the orders of the day Raise a question of privilege Recess Adjourn Fix the time to which to adjourn
Incidental motions	Point of order Appeal Suspend the rules Objection to the consideration of a question Division of a question Consideration by paragraph or seriatim Division of the assembly Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls Motions relating to nominations Prayer motion Request to be excused from a duty Requests and inquiries (Parliamentary inquiry, Request for information, Request for permission to withdraw or modify a motion, Request to read papers, Request for any other privilege)
Motions that bring a question again before the assembly	Take from the table Rescind, repeal, annul or amend something previously adopted Discharge a committee Reconsider
Legislative procedures	Call of the house Hoist Motion to pass on Recall of Parliament
Disciplinary procedures	Censure Declare the chair vacant Impeach Naming
Parliamentary authorities	Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR) The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (TSC or Sturgis) Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure Riddick's Rules of Procedure Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice Jefferson's Manual Lex Parliamentaria Odgers' Australian Senate Practice House of Representatives Practice Bourinot's Rules of Order Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Forms Morin code ABC of Chairmanship
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